Estella Palagashvili Zuzukin, 86, of Beaumont died March 1, 2006 at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital. A native of Chardzou, Turkmenistan, she graduated from medical school in 1942 and was immediately sent into military service in the Soviet Army as a Captain and surgeon. She served in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, among other battles on the Eastern and Western Fronts, having finished World War II in Vienna, Austria.
After World War II, she was assigned to the University Hospital in Riga, Latvia as head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. In 1965, she moved to Moscow with her family and continued her medical practice in various clinics as an OBGYN until retiring in 1982. In 1983, she joined her son in the United States and has lived in Beaumont since 1992.
Estella was a selfless woman, always thinking of others instead of herself. She loved people and was a wonderful cook. Her greatest joy was to have her family and friends around her and to prepare lavish traditional Russian meals for them.
Survivors include her son, Dr. George Zuzukin and his wife Connie of Beaumont; granddaughters, Shayne Kay Zuzukin of Beaumont and Shayla Zuzukin of Virginia Beach, Virginia; niece, Virginia Norvell of Beaumont; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her beloved husband, Colonel Vladimir Zuzukin, M.D., preceded her in death.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2006 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial contribution to a charity of choice or the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P O Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
Special thanks to the teachers at First Baptist Church, Beaumont for their unending care and fellowship they showed Estella.
